Pte. Colin Mason

Colin Mason was born at Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, England, on 21 June 1925. His parents were Sydney and Sarah Ellen Mason (nee Turner). During World War II (1939-1945) he signed up for army service (Service No: 14660550) with the Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment). He was in the 7th Battalion. On 6 June 1944 a massive military machine embarked on the invasion of German-occupied France. Its target was the coast of Normandy. The Normandy landings (codenamed Operation Neptune) were the Allied invasion of Normandy during Operation Overlord. A vast armada of ships carried more than 130,000 men. Ahead of them, planes and gliders transported another 23,000. This was the biggest amphibious landing in history, and its aim was to end the war in Europe and bring victory to the Allies. Colin was one of those wounded during the D-Day landings. Just two months later, on 12 August 1944, Colin was killed in action in Northern France. He was just 19 years old. Colin was buried in the Tilly-sur-Seulles War Cemetery in Calvados, France (Grave Ref: II. B. 3). This cemetery contains 990 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War and 232 German graves. Source: Biography of Colin Mason by Debbie McCauley (2012) http://tauranga.kete.net.nz/remembering_war/topics/show/953